Can you foster infants with no spare room?

HollowTalk · 01/08/2020 22:32

I don't think it's usual to only have tiny babies, is it? If a child is even a few months old they need to be in their own room.

Thriceisnice · 01/08/2020 22:33

No, all Foster carers must have a spare riom

ThousandsAreSailing · 01/08/2020 22:35

That's not true. I know a FC who only fosters babies with a cot in her room

SimonJT · 01/08/2020 22:36

Yes you do need a bedroom available.

I’ve been researching foster to adopt and the same fostering rules apply, so even if the child is under six months and so has to sleep in your room you need a room available for them to use if they remain in your home for an extended period.

Copperblack · 01/08/2020 22:37

Some authorities will let you have under 2s with no spare room, but the reality of this is that your bedroom will be regularly inspected by social services, and if the child turns 2 they will probably ask you to move into your sitting room to enable the child to have their own room.

Llamapolice · 01/08/2020 22:46

I work for a local authority, the standard approval for baby foster carers is age 0-2. Care proceedings can take a long time so you have to think about what happens when a baby placed with you turns 6 months or a year old, they'd have to be moved to another carer purely because you don't have a room for them, not really fair.

Respite for very young babies is not usually needed and when it is a carer can usually be found from the existing bank of carers, so it's not worth going through the lengthy assessment process if that's all you'd be able to do.

ChooksAndBooks · 04/08/2020 07:19

My LA doesn't insist on a spare room. It does insist that the FC has their own bed and to see the space you propose to use. They recently changed their stance on this, which I was surprised at.
You can keep a baby under 2 in a cot in your own room.

Probably worth making a few enquiries as there seems to be a bit of variation.

SoloMummy · 04/08/2020 14:55

@Soonbechrimbo

Just thinking about fostering but we don't have a spare room (at the moment)..

Has anyone ever been approved as a carer for tiny ones and been allowed to have them sleep in their room? Thinking respite or short term care etc. Just pondering at the min!

I was told that under no circumstances would this be acceptable. 🙄

Cassimin · 05/08/2020 14:39

I think the problem would be when care proceedings go on for a long time.
A 1 year old in your bedroom is ok but if their future is being decided and it takes a long time they would need to change carer when they are 2. This would not be in the child’s best interest so it would be irresponsible for their social worker to put them in this position.
Our child came for short term care which then changed to adoption which then changed to long term.
This process took over 3 years.
They are still with us 9 years later.

Original poster

Soonbechrimbo · 07/08/2020 16:39

@Llamapolice

I work for a local authority, the standard approval for baby foster carers is age 0-2. Care proceedings can take a long time so you have to think about what happens when a baby placed with you turns 6 months or a year old, they'd have to be moved to another carer purely because you don't have a room for them, not really fair.

Respite for very young babies is not usually needed and when it is a carer can usually be found from the existing bank of carers, so it's not worth going through the lengthy assessment process if that's all you'd be able to do.

This is interesting thanks. My DD is adopted and her FCs had two holidays whilst she went into respite (under age 1) so I had thought it might be more common.

Thanks all. Some interesting points to think about. We're planning on moving at some point so will probably hang fire for now maybe.

OP posts:

londonscalling · 08/08/2020 14:53

No sorry, you can't, despite the fact that a baby may end up in your room anyway!

Sndrsnms · 07/11/2020 08:59

You need to have a spare room to foster even a baby x